Vietnam fraud crackdown

Vietnamese authorities began a coordinated effort to combat large‑scale fraud schemes. In late July, the Lam Dong Department of Justice, acting on a criminal case against Amazing Star Joint‑Stock Company, sought detailed financial records for 46 individuals linked to a vacation‑ownership card scam that defrauded about 500 victims of more than 180 billion VND.

Law enforcement actions have since expanded to include various deceptive operations. In Hanoi, 22‑year‑old Tống Thị Hiền was detained after confessing to stealing and reselling a coworker’s iPhone for 7.5 million VND. In Ho Chi Minh City, 30‑year‑old Nguyễn Minh Hiền was arrested for impersonating a bank officer to sell bogus, discounted real‑estate and vehicle assets, allegedly swindling victims of over 1 billion VND.

Further investigations in Ho Chi Minh City have uncovered a significant scheme involving 37‑year‑old Lam Thi Cam Tien. Tien is accused of fabricating stories about having relatives in the Ministry of Public Security and claiming she needed funds to “bribe” officials to recover 90 billion VND allegedly seized by security forces during a private jet transport to Con Dao. Authorities estimate Tien misappropriated over 30 billion VND from victims through these false claims. Police are currently working with officials in Can Tho to investigate potential fraud across multiple provinces.

In a recent development, police in Ha Tinh province, coordinating with Lao authorities and the Ha Tinh Border Guard, arrested Hoang Thuy Linh. Linh is accused of leading a transnational criminal syndicate operating out of the Golden Triangle region in Bokeo province, Laos. The organization, reportedly comprising over 150 Vietnamese members, engaged in human trafficking and sophisticated fraud. The group used fake Facebook accounts to build trust through romantic relationships before tricking victims into investing in the OYO application with promises of high returns.